The People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty led a Global Day of Action on December 10, International Human Rights Day, in time for the 70th year commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Member organizations and networks of the Coalition organized activities that highlight their respective local struggles under the theme “Stop Killing Farmers! End Impunity Now!”

BOLIVIA

The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations for the Defense of Human Rights in Chuquisaca, of which PCFS LAC member Instituto Politécnico Tomás Katari (IPTK; Tomás Katari Polytechnic Institute) is part of, organized the first Human Rights Defenders Award to commemorate the 70th IHRD. The event recognized seven individuals and institutions for their active social involvement and work in defending human rights.

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CAMBODIA

Farmers, indigenous peoples, and civil society groups including PCFS member Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Communities (CCFC) and network organization Cambodia Youth Network (CYN) marched in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, against land grabbing and human rights violations.

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INDIA

Peasant leaders of Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU; Andra Pradesh Agricultural Workers Union), a founding member of PCFS, organized a training on people’s rights and movement building.

INDONESIA

PCFS member organization Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA; Alliance of Agrarian Reform Movements) joined the mobilizations in different provinces to oppose the neoliberal policies implemented by President Joko Widodo.

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PHILIPPINES

Various sectors including PCFS member Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP; Peasant Movement of the Philippines) held nationally coordinated protest marches and assemblies in different parts of the country against the fascism of President Rodrigo Duterte, demanding justice and respect for human rights.

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SRI LANKA

Participants of the International Fact Finding Mission on Colombo Financial City [CMB Port City], led by PCFS member organization PAN Asia Pacific and its partners including the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), a network of PCFS, expressed their solidarity in the call for the release of the humanitarian workers and indigenous peoples including children who were imprisoned in Mindanao, southern Philippines. The group, called Talaingod 74, were arrested while conducting an investigation on a paramilitary group’s shutdown of an indigenous Lumad school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

ZAMBIA

Zambia Social Forum (ZAMSOF), PCFS member organization in Africa, participated in the International Anti-Corruption Day event in Lusaka , where Zambia president Edgar Chagwa Lungu was the guest of honor. Its highlight was the Unity Walk to fight corruption and end poverty.

PANAP’s Land and Rights Watch 2018

PANAP launched the Land and Rights Watch 2018 Year-end Report, which discussed the results of their monitoring of cases and victims of human rights violations related to land conflicts and struggles from January to November this year. The report is free to download.

PCFS salutes the martyrs

The Coalition highlighted cases of farmers’ attacks and killings from different countries across the globe, especially giving tribute to the martyrs who gave their lives in the struggle for food sovereignty. Among them is Berta Caceres of Honduras, whose killers were convicted in late November for her murder in 2016.

The features were released in a series through social media, all of which can be accessed here.

(Photos from PCFS or its respective member organization unless otherwise stated.)